Stones Tickets On Sale Sept. 17

Top Price $50

September 10, 1994|By DEBORAH WILKER Music Writer

Planning a trip to the Voodoo Lounge on Nov. 25? Get in line early. Those Rolling Stones tickets probably won't come easy, but they will, at least, be a little less expensive than tickets to other major concerts this year.

There will be a limit of 12 tickets per person, available at outlets or by phone. The stadium box office will not sell Stones tickets until the following Monday, if any tickets are left after the weekend.

Their first tour since '89 follows the release of Voodoo Lounge. Ticket prices are low when compared to the costs of other major tours this year. The Eagles and Bette Midler topped $100 apiece in many markets; the Billy Joel-Elton John double bill was $85; Pink Floyd's best seats were $75 in most cities. And let's not even discuss Miss Streisand.

Mick Jagger, 51, has said that he hoped the Stones could attract a younger audience and wider variety of fans by keeping prices more reasonable. That's the same plan Joel used, pricing every seat at $28.50 for his recent sold-out solo arena tour.

Jagger's thinking seems to be on target. The Stones have done terrific business in several cities, blowing out entire stadium ticket sales in minutes and adding second and third shows as demand required. Yet not all has gone according to plan. Fans in some smaller markets have been indifferent to the Stones' return. Shows in the Carolinas, Pennsylvania and Tennessee may play to half-empty stadiums if sales don't pick up.

Tour organizers are expecting Florida to be one of the stronger states with at least one of the one-night stops here (Tampa Nov. 22, Miami Nov. 25, and Gainesville Nov. 27), rolling into a two-nighter. Tickets for those upstate shows are on sale this morning.

Cellar Door Concerts chief Ron Cohen says Ticketmaster outlets will use the lottery system for South Florida sales. Upon arriving, fans will first pick up a lottery number or wristband that will determine positioning in line. The policy is to curb overnight camping and the usual on-sale chaos.